When I speak with 심봉섭, I must use the most formal speech (deferential). With 김도환, I must speak formally to him as teacher in public such as the CSAT class. In Kaokotalk with Dohwan, I use polite (common) level because over the past 6 months we have become friends. I asked permission to speak polite level with Dohwan in private messages. Coworkers, strangers, and customers should be spoken to formally. Public speaking should be 존댓말. At this point, there is no one I should speak 반말 with.

I’m not use to classifying people by age. 심봉섭 is 7 years younger than me. James 전성일 is 3 years younger. 김도환 is 2 years younger than me. JPhilLee, Jeongnam, and Colin Choi 최재석 are the same age. 문철 is 7 years older. Hyeonsook is 6 years older. Choi Sun ji is 5 years younger. Hwang Sunmi is 8 years younger. Hwajin is 11 years younger.

My English speaking classmates, I have never thought to ask their ages. Chulmoon’s friend Andrew Yang, I just met and haven’t asked his age. Same with the person Dohwan introduced to me, the math teacher 성원용. It is such a difficult question. It would be rude to ask someone in America that I had just met what their age is.